rant

American  

[rant] / rænt /

verb (used without object)

1. to speak or declaim extravagantly or violently; talk in a wild or vehement way; rave.

   The demagogue ranted for hours.

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter or declaim in a ranting manner.

noun

1. ranting, extravagant, or violent declamation.

   Synonyms:

   extravagance, bombast

2. a ranting utterance.

rant British  

/ rænt /

verb

1. to utter (something) in loud, violent, or bombastic tones

2. (intr) to make merry; frolic

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noun

1. loud, declamatory, or extravagant speech; bombast

2. a wild revel

3. an energetic dance or its tune

Other Word Forms

• outrant verb (used with object)
• ranter noun
• ranting adjective
• rantingly adverb
• unranting adjective

Etymology

Origin of rant

First recorded in 1590–1600, rant is from the Dutch word ranten (obsolete) to talk foolishly

Example Sentences

And as Mother Russia Mr. Turner is uproariously funny, interrupting the proceedings to rant and pontificate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Let me clarify that this is not some “dinosaur rails against extinction-level comet collision” rant.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2026

I have been screaming his sentiments for years to anyone patient enough to listen to me rant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

Today she listens to me rant about my slimy mollusk phobia, and I push back against her competitive streak with my own.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026

She halted in mid- rant and looked at Matt in such a calculating way, he felt cold right down to his toes.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

Related Words

• diatribe
• harangue
• oration
• rhetoric
• tirade